44 University of California Publications in Geology [Vol. 7 



feature of all specimens of Felis atrox thus far examined. In 

 the Rancho La Brea specimen the character just mentioned is 

 coupled with distinctly greater anteroposterior diameter of the 

 upper portion of the coronoid process. This deviation from the 

 form of F. hippolestes is, however, so slight that it may have no 

 real taxonomic value. 



Of the metapodials representing the small Felis form, meta- 

 carpal four (fig. 5) is very slightly larger than that of an 

 average specimen of F. ' hippolestes, but is distinguished by 

 the character of the antero-medial region of the shaft. In the 

 specimens of F. hippolestes available this area of the shaft is 

 regularly rounded, and almost without tendency to development 

 of an antero-medial angle. In the Rancho La Brea specimen 

 the proximal half of this region is decidedly angular, and is 

 swollen medially so as to produce a noticeable prominence. 

 There is reason to doubt that this difference is due solely to 

 individual variation. 



The specimen representing metatarsal five (fig. 6) is a little 

 larger than that of the individuals of F. hippolestes available. 

 The Rancho La Brea specimen differs from the Recent ones only 

 in greater width of the postero-medial face for articulation, with 

 metatarsal four, and in the more distinctly angular nature of 

 the proximal portion of the lateral margin. 



A right and a left metatarsal three (fig. 7), evidently from 

 the same individual, are a little larger than the corresponding 

 elements of an average specimen of F. hippolestes. The dimen- 

 sional relations between these elements, and the metatarsal five 

 referred to F. hippolestes above are almost exactly similar to 

 those between metatarsals three and five in the Recent F. hippo- 

 lestes. The third metatarsals differ distinctly from those of 

 Felis atrox and Felis leo in certain characters in which these 

 two forms are alike ; and in the respects in which they differ 

 from F. leo and F. atrox they are almost identical with F. hippo- 

 lestes. 



The resemblance of metatarsal three in the Rancho La Brea 

 specimens to the pumas, and its separation from the lions, is 

 particularly noticeable in the form of the proximal end, . and 

 in the nature of the facets of this region. (See figs. 8 to 10). 



